Family Therapy for Addiction Recovery Support

All You Need is Love: Family Therapy

West Coast Recovery Centers offers traditional and holistic approaches to the treatment of addiction disorder. With some of the therapies made available, these two approaches are combined in innovative ways, as with WCRC’s approach to dialectical behavioral therapy. Another deeply holistic method, AccuDidge, is presented in such a way as to incorporate evidence-based practices and demonstrably practical techniques, each of which maintains a high rate of success. Combined, these techniques play off of each other effectively, resulting in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, with significant (and quantifiable) results

Underlying much of what is done, however, are certain principles that are inherent to most forms of assisted addiction recovery the world over, regardless of where their overall methodology comes from. One of these concepts is that of the involvement of a client’s family in their therapy, as a means of ensuring additional support and resources beyond what the client may be able to provide for themselves. Family therapy is tailored to fit each individual’s needs, and is a frequently part of addiction recovery in both eastern and western medical practices.

Family therapy is designed to work with a wide variety of common challenges regarding family life, but it isn’t for everyone. At West Coast Recovery Centers, programs which include the involvement of a client’s family pick up after the end of an initial adaptation period, during which time casual contact with the outside world is restricted. Rehab is an unusual environment, and it is important to allow a period of time for an individual to adjust, as well as to evaluate their personal needs. The involvement of family members may be just what a given person needs, in order to ensure their successful recovery, or it may not be the best option for them.

Support that Only Family can Provide

Where it is involved, family therapy is more than just an underlying idea. Specific therapeutic methods are utilized, which bring the family’s strengths and resources together for the sake of helping one or more family members overcome their addictive behavior. Family therapy is an evidence-based practice, with a proven track record of supporting the effects of other treatments and reducing the chance of relapse. Some individuals are initially anxious about family therapy; not everyone has the most functional relationship with their family members.

One of the benefits of family therapy is similar to that of dual therapy for an individual: certain particular challenges, such as parenting skills, a history of depression within a family, and other points of frequent family conflict may be simultaneously addressed. The practical skills which are taught in individual mindfulness-based treatments are taught in a way as to make them broadly applicable, to help reinforce abilities which may not have developed fully on their own. Family therapy works in the same way, assisting every member of a client’s family at the same time, in ways that will benefit their loved one–– but will also carry over to other aspects of their day-to-day lives.

Outside of the specific scope of the addiction recovery process itself, family therapy assists the client and their family members in learning how to communicate, how to resolve and avoid conflict, and how to approach situations and traits which are causing one or more of the family members stress. These skills provide well-established support for improved professional and personal success.